teaching resource

Exploring How Light Travels Experiment

Updated: 19 May 2026

Help your students uncover how light moves with this hands‑on How Light Travels experiment pack.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 8 Pages
Years: 5 - 6

Curriculum

VC2S6U08

Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted
VC2S6I01

With guidance, pose questions to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the findings of an investigation might be based on previous experiences or general rules
VC2S6I02

With guidance, plan appropriate investigation types to answer questions or solve problems and use equipment, technologies and materials safely, identifying potential risks
VC2S6I04

Construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to record, represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data
VC2S6I03

Equipment can be used to observe, generate, measure and record data with reasonable precision for repeated measurements, using digital tools as appropriate <ul> <li>recording data using standard units such as the volt, ampere, gram, second and metre, and developing the use of standard prefixes for metric units, such as ‘kilo-’ and ‘milli-’</li> <li>using digital tools such as digital thermometers and soil moisture probes to collect data over time, and recording data in spreadsheets</li> <li>discussing why precision is important in measurement, and comparing the precision of different class data sets, for example the growth of radish seeds in different soil environments and the length of shadows at different times of the day</li> </ul>

AC9S5U03

Identify sources of light, recognise that light travels in a straight path and describe how shadows are formed and light can be reflected and refracted
AC9S5I01

Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions
AC9S5I02

Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions, including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct i
AC9S5I03

Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate
AC9S5I04

Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships
AC9S6I01

Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions
AC9S6I02

Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct in
AC9S6I03

Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate
AC9S6I04

Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships

teaching resource

Exploring How Light Travels Experiment

Updated: 19 May 2026

Help your students uncover how light moves with this hands‑on How Light Travels experiment pack.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 8 Pages
Years: 5 - 6

Help your students uncover how light moves with this hands‑on How Light Travels experiment pack.

Exploring How Light Travels Experiment

Help your students uncover how light moves and why we can only see it from certain positions with this hands‑on Investigating How Light Travels experiment pack. Designed for upper‑primary learners, this printable How Light Travels Experiment places students in the role of real scientists as they explore how light travels in straight lines and what happens when objects block its path.

Predict and Test How Light Behaves

This light energy experiment guides students through a step‑by‑step investigation that helps them answer key questions about how light travels:

How does light travel?
Can light pass through objects?
What happens when something blocks light?
Why can we see light from some positions but not others?

This investigation helps students see firsthand that light travels in straight lines and that shadows form when an object blocks its path.

Download This Light Investigation Today!

This resource is available in both PDF and editable Google Slides format. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button and select your preferred file type.

This resource was created by Kendall Britnell, a teacher and Teach Starter Collaborator.

More Engaging Light Energy Activities

If you’re building a full unit on light, you may also enjoy these light energy activities. Make sure you check these out before you go!

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Reflection, Refraction & Absorption PowerPoint

Teach your students how light behaves with an engaging Reflection, Refraction and Absorption PowerPoint Presentation.

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Light & Sound Wave Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Explore the movement of light and sound waves in thunderstorms with a printable Light and Sound Wave Reading Comprehension Worksheet.

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Light Energy Task Cards

Review or assess student knowledge of light energy with a set of printable Light Energy Task Cards.

Light Vocabulary

straight line
visible spectrum
light source
light
beam
reflect
torch
opaque
shine
shadow
absorption
sun
concave
convex lens
prism
refraction
reflection
watt
shade
translucent
daylight
joule
transparent
crest
trough
wavelength
frequency
law of reflection
plane mirror
natural light
transmit
nanometres
absorb
lens
magnetic
diffraction
cornea
pupil
iris
concave lens
convex mirror
concave mirror
retina
rod
cone
pigment
particles
direction
penumbra
photon ray
umbra
ultraviolet
polarisation
wave
electromagnetic spectrum
light-year
infrared
electromagnetic wave
particle-wave theory

Create a Word Search with these words →

Curriculum

VC2S6U08

Light from a source forms shadows and can be absorbed, reflected and refracted
VC2S6I01

With guidance, pose questions to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the findings of an investigation might be based on previous experiences or general rules
VC2S6I02

With guidance, plan appropriate investigation types to answer questions or solve problems and use equipment, technologies and materials safely, identifying potential risks
VC2S6I04

Construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to record, represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data
VC2S6I03

Equipment can be used to observe, generate, measure and record data with reasonable precision for repeated measurements, using digital tools as appropriate <ul> <li>recording data using standard units such as the volt, ampere, gram, second and metre, and developing the use of standard prefixes for metric units, such as ‘kilo-’ and ‘milli-’</li> <li>using digital tools such as digital thermometers and soil moisture probes to collect data over time, and recording data in spreadsheets</li> <li>discussing why precision is important in measurement, and comparing the precision of different class data sets, for example the growth of radish seeds in different soil environments and the length of shadows at different times of the day</li> </ul>

AC9S5U03

Identify sources of light, recognise that light travels in a straight path and describe how shadows are formed and light can be reflected and refracted
AC9S5I01

Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions
AC9S5I02

Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions, including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct i
AC9S5I03

Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate
AC9S5I04

Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships
AC9S6I01

Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions
AC9S6I02

Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct in
AC9S6I03

Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate
AC9S6I04

Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships

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